Assessment of Artificial Light at Night Across Geographical Features in the Sicilian Coastal Zone

Vincenzo Maccarrone () and Enza Maria Quinci
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Vincenzo Maccarrone: Italian National Research Council, Institute for Marine Biological Resources and Biotechnology (CNR-IRBIM), Via Luigi Vaccara 61, 91026 Mazara del Vallo, TP, Italy
Enza Maria Quinci: Italian National Research Council, Institute for the Study of Anthropogenic Impact and Sustainability in the Marine Environment (CNR-IAS), 91021 Campobello di Mazara, TP, Italy

Land, 2024, vol. 13, issue 12, 1-21

Abstract: This study investigates the impact of artificial light at night (ALAN) along the Sicilian coasts, using satellite data from 2016 to 2023, focusing on three distinct spatial domains: terrestrial areas within 1 km from the coastline, marine areas extending up to 1 km offshore, and marine areas up to 1 nautical mile from the coast. In coastal zones, ALAN is a significant anthropogenic pressure with potentially detrimental effects on ecosystems. By integrating satellite data with geographic datasets such as Corine Land Cover (CLC), Natura 2000 protected areas, and Posidonia oceanica meadows, this study aims to characterize and analyse the temporal and spatial variations in ALAN across these domains. The findings reveal substantial differences in light pollution between domains and over time, with coastal terrestrial areas exhibiting the highest levels of ALAN. In contrast, marine areas further offshore experience reduced light pollution, particularly within the 1-nautical-mile domain. This study also indicates that protected areas, especially those within the Natura 2000 network, show significantly lower ALAN levels than non-protected areas, highlighting the effectiveness of conservation efforts. Statistical analyses, including ANOVAs, demonstrate that factors such as geographic domain, year, province, and CLC classes significantly influence ALAN distribution. This study advocates for considering ALAN as a critical factor in environmental impact assessments, such as those under the Maritime Spatial Planning Directive (MSP) and Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD), providing valuable insights to support policies aimed at mitigating the environmental impact of light pollution on coastal and marine ecosystems.

Keywords: artificial light at night; coastal zone management; Corine Land Cover; habitat directive; Posidonia oceanica; geographical information systems; Marine Strategy Directive; Maritime Spatial Planning Directive (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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